9/2002  - BSD Today - Security for Wireless 802.11b Networks

Security for Wireless 802.11b Networks 

Brainlink International announced its new service offering, SafeWiFik, which should allow its customers to secure their 802.11b wireless networks.

 

 

Using high-grade encryption, Brainlink says that its SafeWiFi team can "lock down" a company's 802.11b network, allowing users to take advantage of the conveniences and cost savings wireless offers, while reducing the risk of having data exposed, bandwidth exploited or identities forged.

 

 

Brainlink's SafeWiFi supports BSD clients, as well as Linux, Windows, and Mac clients. According to the company, SafeWiFi can be implemented at a significant cost savings when compared to other competing and less flexible services.

 

 

"Wireless is hot right now, but too many companies are installing it without fully addressing its security risks," says Brainlink International's CTO, Raj Goel, adding, "our SafeWiFi process allows companies with existing 802.11b networks to secure them, while also allowing those companies that thought they couldn't take advantage of wireless' cost savings to get on board."

 

 

SafeWiFi grew out of Brainlink's own needs. "We wanted to use 802.11b in our own offices, since it's easier to encourage collaboration amongst our technology innovators when they're not tethered to their desks," Goel says, "but a number of security concerns forced us to develop SafeWiFi before we were comfortable with that move."

 

 

Goel reports that those security issues included increasing incidents of warchalking, wardriving and warstorming, in which accessible 802.11b networks are mapped by and shared amongst hackers looking for free bandwidth or potential targets, and the setup of a public 802.11b network near Brainlink's offices, which radically increased wireless traffic in the area.